Shooting locks down elementary school

By Kathleen Pointer

Published Oct. 28, 2008

Grant Elementary School was put on lockdown Monday afternoon while the Columbia Police Department worked to apprehend subjects in regard to gunshots fired.

CPD received reports of gunshots being fired in the 800 block of Washington Avenue at 1:39 p.m. One gunshot shell casing was recovered from the scene.

Grant principal Beverly Borduin said police notified the school of the shooting.

"We want to be notified by police when something like this is nearby, and even though it wasn't right next to Grant, I would say it was enough in the neighborhood to call us," she said. "They did a good job on that."

A witness followed two suspects from the scene to a residence located at 11 Ash St., a CPD news release stated.

Police responded and located the two suspects at the residence, Sgt. Barbara Buck said.

Police followed the two suspects into the house and located Malcolm Redmon, who was hiding in the basement, the release stated. Police apprehended the other suspect when he ran out of the front door and threw 117 grams of crack cocaine onto the ground.

Redmon was arrested on charges of resisting arrest and a parole detainer, the release stated. The name of the suspect that ran from the house and was apprehended has not been released. Police are investigating the involvement of these two men in the case, Buck said.

Grant was put on lockdown at about 1:50 p.m. as a precautionary measure and remained on lockdown for about 15 minutes. The lockdown was conducted by assistant principal Jen Wingert and was accomplished in less than two minutes, Borduin said.

"We practice lockdowns and the teachers and staff know exactly what to do," Borduin said. "Faculty say 'secure your rooms' and the teachers then get children in a safe location in their room, lock the doors, and put the blinds down. Faculty without students then go through the building and make sure all doors are locked and that no one is in the bathroom."

Monday evening, Javonte Roy, who was identified as being the individual responsible for the shooting, turned himself in to the CPD and was arrested for second-degree assault and armed criminal action, the release stated.

This investigation is ongoing.

"Detectives are going to get into the motive of why the arguments started and what happened from there," Buck said.